Patty stacking machine



May 24, 1960 w. E. LAZOTT E L 2,937,482

PATTY STACKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Weol y 12113022033, 7 flagmo Iwezaiom:

May 24, 1960 w. E, LAZCTT EI'AL 2,937,482

' PATTY STACKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iazveafoahs: Wwiey E Lazoffi,

May 24, 1960 w. E. LAZOTT ETAL 2,937,432

PATTY STACKING MACHINE] Filed Spt. 12, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s Fig 110 10 Inventor.-

WecZey EiLazofZ,

moaadl? CaiZeH, J3

May 24, 1960 w. E. LAZOTT ETAI- PATTY STACKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Iewezzofls: WesZey E. 13020255,

May 24, 1960 w. E. LAZOTT ET AL 2,937,482

PATTY STACKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s May 24, 1960 w. E. LAZOTT ETAL 2,937,482

PATTY s'rAcxING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 12, 1957 Inventor.- Wmiqg E. Lazofifi,

United PATTY STACKING MACHINE Wesley E. Lazott, Hopkinton, and Raymond P. Cutler,

Filed Sept. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 683,529

8 Claims. (CI. 53-59) This invention relates to a machine for receiving hamburg patties or the like from a hamburg patty making machine of the nature shown in Patent 2,795,816, dated June 18, 1957, and stacking the patties. As shown in said patent, the patties are cut from the forward end of an extruded strip of ground meat and slide therefrom by gravity down an inclined chute.

Our novel stacking machine is inclined from the horizontal to cooperate with the inclined chute and receive patties therefrom for stacking. The stacking mechanism includes a platform inclined to receive the patties direct and successively from the chute and elevate them to predetermined position and into a stack, cooperating fingers being provided for supporting the accumulated stack during elevating movement of the platform. Confining means for the patties and stack is disposed about and extends upwardly from the platform and the upper portion of this means is open upwardly to permit the insertion of a hand to grasp the stack and lift it upwardly and outwardly of the machine, and a further feature of the invention relates to the inserting and loading of the patties directly into a packaging cartonJ The production of a novel machine of this nature and for the purpose described comprises the primary object of the invention.

Another feature of the invention relates to novel mech-- anism for automatically removing each stack of patties from the machine and conveying it to a predetermined station when a predetermined number of patties have been elevated into a stack above said predetermined position. The production of an automatic stacking machine embodying this feature comprises a further object of the invetnion.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of our ing machine,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in vertical section, Fig. 2a is a fragmentary view of Fig. 2 with parts in another position, a 4

'Fig. 3 is a plan section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. '4 is a rear end elevation partly broken away,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, v Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a portion of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary and sectional side elevation illustrating theelevating of a patty into a stack,

Fig. 8 is an end elevation thereof,

Fig. 9 is a side view like Fig. 7 but showing the eleshown in the accompanying patty stackplate 30 parallel with the base.

, 2,937,482 P'atented'May 2 1 1960 'in the stack,

Fig. 14 illustrates the stack being pushed from the platform ontoa conveyor, 7

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side view of a patty stacker from which the stacks are removed manually,

Fig. 16 is an end view thereof,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of a clutch pin,

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary elevation of a pivoted cam lever shown in Fig. 5,

' Fig. 19 is a sectional view through the lever on 19-49 of Fig. 18,

Fig. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the first step in placing a carton on the machine in position to receive a stack of patties thereinto,

' Fig. 21 illustrates the carton in such position on the machine, and

Fig. 22 illustrates the filled carton being removed from the machine.

The machine .is mounted on a base 10 supported in line the inclined position of Fig. 2 by supports 12 resting on the shelf 14 of a table 15. The operating mechanism for the stacker, including a motor 16, is housed on the base V-belt 26.

Supported on and above the base 10 by posts 28 is a Mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in a bearing 32 on the plate is a plunger 34. An anti-friction roller 36 on the bottom end of the plunger engages the periphery of a cam 37 fixed to the shaft 20 and a compression spring 38 on the plunger normally holds the roller in contact with the cam. -Mounted on the top end of the plunger above the bearing 32 is a platform 40 adapted to be reciprocated up an down at each rotation of the shaft.

The machine as illustrated is constructed to cooperate with a hamburg patty making machine and'is adapted to receive and stack the patties as they slide by gravity down an inclined chute. This chute is shown at 41 'in Fig. 2 and pivoted at 42 to its bottom end is a lowermost portion 44. The free end of this portion is bifurcated to engage and move with the platform 40 as illustrated at 45 in Fig. 2. As thus constructed the patties slide down the chute and onto the platform.

Mounted on the plate 30 and having a pivoted finge 46 extending upwardly through a slot 47 in the platform 40 is a normally open micro-switch 48. The switch is in circuit with a solenoid 50 which is energized when the switch is closed by a patty sliding down the chute and into pivoting contact with the finger. Such closing of the switch trips mechanism, now to be described, for causing one rotation of the shaft 20. g

Directly adjacent to the cam 37 on and fixed to the shaft 20 is a collar 52 having a radial arm 54. A

clutch pin 56 is supported and mounted to slide in opposite directions in aligned holes in the cam and arm to two extreme positions. In one position (Fig. 2) one end of the pin is disposed in the path of movement of two diametrically opposed lugs 58 carried on the pulley 24 and in which position the other end of the pin clears a stop 60 fixed to the base. A compression spring 62 on the pin between the arm 54 and an annulus 63 fixed to the pin normally maintain the pin in this position. In its other extreme position (Fig. 2a) the pin overlaps the-stop 60 and clears the lugs 58.

Pivotally mounted on a post 64 integral with the base 10 and bearing 22 is a lever 65 (Fig. A tension spring 66 connected to the shorter arm of the lever and to a fixed pin 68 normally pivots the longer arm of the lever upwardly. A pin 69 on the free end of the lever extends through a vertical slot .70 in a bracket 72 carried on the base, the top end of. the slot providing a stop limiting upward travel of the pin and lever. The intermediate portion of the lever is semicircular and has an integral cam surface 74 disposed to cooperate with the beveled portion 75 of the annulus 63. The lever is normally in the raised position of Fig. 5 wherein contact of the annulus 63 with the plane portion 77 of the lever holds the pin.56 in the retracted position of Fig. 2a. In such position the pin is clear of the lugs '58 in the constantly rotating pulley 24.

The spring 66 normally maintains the lever 65 in the raised position of Fig. 5 with the pin 69 at the top end of its travel in the slot 70, and a sear 76 pivoted at 78 normally limits downward movement of the lever and pin. The armature 80 of the solenoid 50 is normally in the .raised position of Figs. 5 and 6 and in which position a conical portion 81 thereon forms a stop for the sear. A spring.82 normally pivots the sear to the stop position of Fig. 6 wherein the sear is disposed in stop position beneath the pin 69. Extending horizontally outward from the armature 80 above its conical portion 81 and through a vertical slot 83 in the bracket 72 is a horizontal arm 84. Energizing of the solenoid is adapted to draw the armature downwardly and pivot the sear out of the path of movement of the pin 69, and such downward movement of the armature also functions through the arm 84 to pull the pin 69 and lever 65 downwardly.

In the normal operation of the machine, the pulley 24 is constantly rotated and the clutch pin 56 is retracted to the position of Fig. 2a wherein it is engaged against the stop 60. When a patty 85 slides down the chute 41-44 and onto the platform 40, its forward end engages and pivots the trigger finger 46 to a position closing the switch 48. The solenoid 50 is thereupon energized and draws its armature 80 downwardly, thereby pivoting the sear rearwardly from beneath the pin 69 and pivoting the cam lever 65 downwardly away from the annulus 63. The spring 62 thereupon shifts the pin 56 to the position of Fig. 2 whereupon one of the lugs 58 contacts the pin and rotates the shaft 20 with the pulley 24. Such rotation continues until the annulus 63 again comes into contact with the cam 74, which has returned to the raised position of Figs. 5 and 6. The cam thereupon functions to retract the clutch pin 56 to the position of Fig. 2a and wherein the clutch pin comes into contact with the stop 60. The shaft 20 has thereupon been rotated one full turn when it is brought to rest against the stop 60.

Such full turn rotation of the shaft 20 and its cam 37 elevates the platform 40 and patty 85 thereon to the extreme top position illustrated in Fig. 11 and the platform then returns to the original position of Fig. 2. Two opposite sides of the platform are slotted at 86 to receive the fingers 88 on two levers 89 pivoted at 96, the retaining walls 91 about the elevator shaft being perforated at 92 to permit passage theretlrrough of the fingers. The levers have two inwardly extending arms 93 slotted at 94 to receive a pin 95 carried on the top end of a plunger 96 extending through a guide bearing 97. A compressionspring 98 on the plunger normally maintains an anti-friction roll 99 on the bottom end of the plunger in contact with a cam 100 fixed to the shaft 20. Rotation of the shaft and cam is adapted to move the fingers outwardly and inwardly synchronously with the platform movement as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10.

As the platform and patty thereon are moved upwardly the cam 100 pivots the fingers outwardly to a position (Fig. 10) permitting the platform and patty to pass upwardly to the extreme top position of Fig. 11. Immediately following such passage the cam permits the fingers quickly to return to the position of Fig. 11 whereupon the patty is supported on the fingers as the platform drops to its original position. The next patty is elevated in like manner, the fingers continuing to support the prior elevated patties in top position during each patty elevating interim. As each elevated patty approaches the stack 102 (Fig. 10) the fingers are quickly moved outwardly and the elevated patty is added to the bottom of the stack.

The patty elevating operations are repeated, as illustrated in Figs. 7-13, and in Figs. 1-14 we have illustrated means including an endless conveyor 104 for automatically removing each patty stack when a predetermined number of patties have been accumulated. Disposed to cooperate with the top end of the conveyor, along the lower margin of the platform 40 in its topmost position (Fig. 14), is a gate. 105 pivoted at 106, a spring 108 normally holding the gate in the raised position of Fig. 7. A U-shaped pusher 110 is disposed at the opposite margin of the platform and is supported to slide on guide rails 112. A lever pivoted at 114 has an upwardly extending arm 115 connected to the pusher at 117 and a downwardly extending arm 119 carrying an anti-friction roll 121 disposed in the path of movement of a cam 123 on a gear 125, a spring 127 normally holding the pusher retracted to the position of Fig. 2. The gear is rotatably mounted on the base 10 and is driven by a pinion 129 fixed to the shaft 20. Passage of the cam beneath the roll is adapted to swing the lever to the broken line position of Fig. 2 and push the accumulated stack of patties onto the conveyor. During such operation the pusher also contacts and swings the gate 105 downwardly to the position of Fig. 14 wherein it serves as a bridge to the conveyor. As illustrated in the drawings, the machine automatically removes each stack of four patties and the number of patties thus removed in each stack can be varied as by changing the gearing ratio.

In Figs. 15 and 16 we have illustrated a modified construction particularly adapting the patty stacks to be removed manually. This construction includes a confining housing 131 for the patties extending upwardly about the elevator shaft and platform 40. The housing is cut away and open upwardly at 133 from the predetermined position at the bottom of the stack to a width confining the patties and permitting a hand to extend through the opening and grasp and lift upwardly and outwardly a stack of accumulated patties, as indicated in Fig. 16.

The patty stacks can be placed in any arrangement most convenient for their disposal and in Figs. 20-22 we have illustrated the packaging of the patties directly into cartons 135. In this case the patty stack receiving housing 131 (Fig. 16) is constructed as illustrated in Fig. 21 wherein one of the corner posts 131 is cut away to provide a stop 137 and the other corner post 131 (Fig. 21) serves as a guide for locating the carton in patty receiving position.

Briefly, this method of packaging the stacked patties directly into cartons is as follows. The operator grasps an empty carton in his right band (Fig. 20) with the lid 139 open and the open side of the carton facing downwardly. He transfers this carton to his left hand and places it in position on the machine to receive the stacked patties (Fig. 21). In this operation a corner of the carton is' placed within the corner post 131', thus locating the carton laterally with its open face disposed downwardly in position to receive the patties thereinto, and the carton is seated on the stop 137, thus locating the carton vertically in patty receiving position. Ordinarily, four to six patties will be packaged within each carton and, when the desirednumber of patties is disposed within the cazton, the operator slides his fingers in supporting position therebeneath and lifts the carton and contained patties from the machine (Fig. 22) and places them in upright position on a tray or conveyor for completion of the packaging.

Having thus disclosed our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A patty stacking machine comprising a plunger inclined upwardly from the vertical, a rectangular plat form fixed to the top end of thje plunger substantially right angular thereto and inclined from the horizontal with one straight side margin substantially higher than the opposite margin, means providing a chute inclined downwardly to and cooperating with said straight higher margin to deliver patties to the platform, tripping mechanism including controlling means in the path of movement of each patty at the platform, means including power operated mechanism operative on the plunger under the control of said tripping mechanism for elevating the platform and patty to a predetermined position and returning the platform to original position when the patty contacts said controlling means, means extending upwardly substantially parallel with the plunger adjacent to said opposite margin of the platform for confining patties delivered to the platform and elevated thereby, a plurality of elements disposed adjacent to said predetermined position for supporting a stack of accumulated patties in a stacking space above the platform, and means operated by said power operated mechanism for automatically moving said elements outwardly from beneath the stack when the platform and patty thereon approach said predetermined position and inwardly beneath the patty when the platform recedes therefrom.

2. The patty stacking machine defined in claim 1 in which said upwardly extending patty confining means includes a housing extending upwardly from two corners of the platform at said opposite margin thereof and open upwardly between said corners from said predetermined position to a width confining the patties at opposite sides of the opening and permitting a hand to extend therethrough and grasp and lift upwardly and outwardly of the housing a stack of accumulated patties.

3. A patty stacking machine comprising a platform, means providing a chute inclined downwardly and including a fixed body portion and a lowermost portion pivoted thereto at one end and having its opposite end engaging the platform, said lowermost portion being movable with the platform about the pivot axis and adapted to deliver patties to the platform, tripping mechanism including controlling means in the path of movement of each patty at the platform, means including power operated mechanism under the control of said tripping mechanism for elevating the platform and patty to a predetermined position and returning the platform to original position when the patty contacts said controlling means, means extending upwardly adjacent to and about the platform for confining patties delivered to the platform and elevated thereby, a plurality of elements disposed adjacent to said predetermined position for supporting a stack of accumulated patties in a stacking space above the platform, and means for automatically moving said elements outwardly from beneath the stack when the platform and patty thereon approach said predetermined position and inwardly beneath the patty when the platform recedes therefrom.

4. A machine for stacking patties within a rectangular box-like carton open at one face thereof, comprising a platform, means providing a chute inclined downwardly and cooperating with the platform to deliver patties thereto, tripping mechanism including controlling means in returning the platform to original position when the patty contacts said controlling means, means extending upwardly adjacent to and about the platform for confining patties delivered to the platform and elevated thereby, a plurality of elements disposed adjacent to said predetermined position for supporting'a stack of accumulated patties at a stacking station above the platform, means for automatically moving said elements outwardly from beneath the stack when the platform and patty thereon approaches said predetermined position and inwardly beneath the patty when the platform recedes therefrom, a guide on said upwardly extending means comprising two relatively inclined abutment surfaces for engaging adjacent corner sides of the carton therebetween to locate the carton laterally with its open face disposed downwardly over said station in position to receive the patties thereinto, and stop means for locating the carton vertically in patty receiving position.

5. The machine defined in claim 4 in which said guide comprises a corner post having a V-shaped recess therein for receiving a corner portion of the carton in contact with said adjacent sides thereof.

6. A patty stacking machine comprising a platform, means for delivering a patty to the platform, tripping mechanism including controlling means in the path of movement of the patty at the platform, means including power operated mechanism under the control of said tripping mechanism for elevating the platform and patty to a predetermined position and returning the platform to original position when the patty contacts said means, a plurality of elements disposed adjacent to said predetermined position for supporting a stack of patties in a stacking space above the platform, means for automatically moving said elements outwardly from beneath the stack when the platform approaches said predetermined position and inwardly beneath said patty when the platform recedes therefrom, an upwardly extending gate pivoted for outward and downward movement on an axis disposed along one side margin of said stacking space and adjacent to said predetermined position, means normally holding the gate in raised position, and a pusher at the opposite side margin of said space for opening the gate and pushing the stack thereover and outwardly of said space. I

7. The patty stacking machine defined in claim 6 plus means automatically operative to thus push the pusher and effect opening of the gate and pushing of the stack from said space when a predetermined number of patties have been lifted into a stack above said predetermined position.

8. A patty stacking machine comprising a plunger inclined upwardly from the vertical, a platform fixed to the top end of the plunger substantially right angular thereto and inclined from the horizontal with one side margin substantially higher than the opposite margin, means providing a chute inclined downwardly to and cooperating with the higher margin to deliver patties to the platform, tripping mechanism including controlling means in the path of movement of each patty at the platform, a shaft beneath and inclined from the horizontal substantially parallel with the platform, a power driven rotary member, means under the control of said tripping mechanism for connecting said member with the shaft and rotating the shaftone revolution when the patty contacts said controlling means, means including a cam on the shaft cooperating with the plunger for elevating the platform and patty to a predetermined position and returning the platform to original position during said ro- 3,987,489 7 tation of the shaft, means extending upwardly adjacent to said opposite margin of the platform for ejonfining patties delivered .to the platform and elevated thereby,

a plurality of elements disposed adjacent to said pre- 1,113,932 mP Oct 13, 1914 determined position for supporting a stack of aeeumu- 5 1,552,648 Rfisenthal 61 a1 P lated patties in a stacking space above the platform, and 2,016,418 Ebefling 81 L 9 means operated 'by said shaft for automatically moving 2,047,272 Kimball et ly said elements outwardly from beneath the stack when 90 Van Bur n Aug. 18, the platform and patty thereon approach said predeter- 2,069,926 Read mined position and inwardly beneath the patty when 10 ,697,5 gfl 1 -2 the platform recedes therefrom. 2,792,950 Ffiliton et 1- y References Cited in the file of this patnt UNITED STATES PATENTs 

